Skip to content An Italian visa is the authorization that allows non-EU nationals to enter Italy. The type of visa you need depends on three factors: your nationality, the purpose of your stay, and how long you intend to remain in the country. This guide covers every visa category available in 2025, the documents required, processing times, costs, and what to do after arrival.
What is an Italy visa and who needs one?
A visa is the official permission issued by Italian consular authorities to enter the country. Although the visa appointment can be requested online, a visit in person is generally required to submit documents, unless the specific consulate states otherwise. Once issued, a visa can be revoked by the authorities at any time.
You do not need a visa if:
- You are a citizen of an EU or Schengen Area member state — you can move freely across Italy using your national ID card.
- You are a national of a visa-exempt country for short stays of up to 90 days (see the full list below).
You do need a visa if you are a non-EU national planning to enter Italy for more than 90 days, or for a purpose that requires formal authorisation (work, study, family reunification, investment, etc.).
Important: once you arrive in Italy on a long-stay visa (type D), you must apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 working days. The visa only authorises entry — the residence permit is what allows you to legally stay.
Normative framework
Italian visas are governed by two main legal instruments:
- Short-stay visas (type C): EU Regulation 810/2009 (the Visa Code), adopted in Italy via Ministerial Decree of 11 May 2011. These are shared rules across all Schengen countries.
- Long-stay visas (type D): Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione) and DPR 394/1999.
Types of Italian visa
Short-stay visa (type C) — Uniform Schengen Visa (USV)
The Schengen visa for Italy allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It is the standard visa for most short visits and covers the following purposes:
- Tourist visa — for tourism and leisure travel to Italy.
- Business visa — for business activities such as meetings, negotiations, and training sessions (no employment or physical work permitted).
- Student visa — for short study programmes at recognised institutions.
- Medical care — for receiving medical treatment in a public or private Italian clinic.
- Mission — for foreign nationals attending to matters connected to their official public role.
- Religious reasons — for pilgrimages or worship activities.
- Sports competitions — for participation in recognised sporting events.
Schengen visas may be issued with validity of one year (C1), two years (C2), three years (C3), or five years (C5). Extensions beyond the standard 90-day period may be granted by the local Questura only in proven exceptional circumstances (e.g. medical inability to travel, documented business necessity).
Long-stay visa (type D) — National Visa
The Italian long-stay visa is required for any stay exceeding 90 days. It is divided into two broad categories: visas for work activities, and visas for non-work activities.
Long-stay visas for work
- Work visa — for non-EU nationals entering Italy on the basis of a work contract with an Italian company. Subject to annual quotas set by the decreto flussi.
- Intra-company transfer (ICT) visa — for the transfer to Italy of highly specialised workers, executives, or trainees within a multinational group.
- EU Blue Card — for highly qualified non-EU workers hired locally by an Italian employer. Requires a minimum annual salary of approximately €35,500 and a job offer of at least 6 months. Recent regulatory changes also allow applications without a university degree for candidates with relevant professional experience.
- Digital nomad visa — introduced in April 2024, for non-EU/EEA nationals who work remotely as freelancers or employees of companies based outside Italy. Requires proof of remote work, a minimum monthly income of approximately €2,300, and valid health insurance. Exempt from the decreto flussi quota system.
- Art. 27 letter I — for workers employed abroad and temporarily transferred to an Italian employer under a service agreement.
- Art. 27 paragraph 1-bis (Van der Elst) — for the entry of non-EU workers posted to Italy by EU-based companies under a service agreement. See also our article on the Van der Elst Visa.
- Startup visa — for non-EU entrepreneurs wishing to found an innovative startup in Italy. Requires at least €50,000 in available funds and a strong technology-focused business plan. Subject to annual quotas (500 places in 2025).
Long-stay visas for non-work activities
- Family reunification visa — for non-EU nationals joining a close family member legally residing in Italy. Includes: visa for family members accompanying a holder of a type D visa, and visa for family members joining a foreigner already living in Italy.
- Elective residence visa — for financially independent non-EU nationals who wish to reside in Italy without working. Requires stable passive income of at least €31,000 per year for individuals (€38,000 for couples), sourced from pensions, investments, or rental income. Application fee: €116.
- Investor visa (Golden Visa) — for non-EU nationals making a qualifying investment in Italy: €250,000 in an Italian innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, €1,000,000 philanthropic donation to public-interest projects, or €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds. Valid for 2 years, renewable for 3 more. Can lead to permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 10.
- Internship visa — for foreign nationals carrying out a training project at an Italian company.
- Mission — for foreign nationals attending to matters connected to their official public role.
- Religious reasons — for pilgrimages or worship activities.
- Re-entry visa — for foreign nationals who previously held an Italian residence permit, lost it for any reason, and need to return to Italy.
- Adoption — for foreign nationals who have been adopted in Italy.
The long-stay visa only authorises entry into Italy. Once arrived, holders must convert it into a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 working days — this is the document that permits legal residence in Italy.
Airport Transit Visa (type A)
Nationals of the following countries require an Airport Transit Visa when transiting through Italian international airports (even without entering the Schengen Area): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Syria.
Exemptions from the Airport Transit Visa
Nationals of the above countries are exempt if they hold one of the following: a valid Schengen uniform visa (type C) or long-stay national visa (type D); a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state; a valid visa or residence permit issued by an EU state not in Schengen (e.g. Romania), or by Canada, Japan, or the United States guaranteeing return; family member status of an EU citizen; a diplomatic passport; or are members of aircraft crew.
Work-vacation visa: Italy–Japan
Since 2022, Italy and Japan have had a bilateral work-vacation visa agreement, allowing Italian and Japanese citizens to work and holiday in each other’s country for up to one year from the date of entry. The visa permits ancillary work to fund the trip but does not require a formal work permit. See our dedicated article: work-vacation visa Italy–Japan.
Working holiday visa: Italy–Australia
Italy and Australia also maintain a bilateral working holiday programme allowing eligible young citizens to travel and work temporarily in each other’s country. The programme is designed to facilitate cultural exchange while permitting short-term employment during the stay. See our dedicated article: Working Holiday Visa Italy–Australia.
Working holiday visa: Italy–Canada
Italian and Canadian citizens may benefit from youth mobility programmes that allow temporary stays combined with work opportunities. Depending on the applicable programme category, participants may enter the country for working holiday experiences, internships, or young professional activities. See our dedicated article: Working Holiday Visa Italy–Canada.
How to apply for an Italian visa: step by step
Step 1 — Choose the correct visa type
Start by identifying the right visa category based on your nationality, purpose, and length of stay. Applying for the wrong type is one of the most common causes of refusal. If in doubt, contact the competent Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence, or consult a specialist.
Step 2 — Book your consulate appointment
Although the visa appointment can be requested online, most Italian consulates require an in-person visit to submit your application. Appointment waiting times vary significantly by location — in high-demand countries, booking several months in advance is advisable.
Step 3 — Prepare your documents
All visa applications require these core documents:
- Completed and signed visa application form
- Valid passport (must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen Area; must contain at least 2 blank visa pages)
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- Application fee payment (where applicable)
Additional documents depend on the specific visa type (employment contract, university enrolment letter, proof of passive income, investment documentation, etc.). All documents not in Italian or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
Step 4 — Submit your application and pay the fee
Submit your application at the Italian consulate or embassy responsible for your country of residence, or through an authorised visa application centre (e.g. VFS Global) where available. Fees generally range between €80 and €116 depending on the visa type, payable in local currency.
Step 5 — Wait for the decision
Processing times differ by visa type (see below). The consulate will notify you of the outcome. If approved, your visa will be stamped in your passport. If further documents are requested, respond promptly — delays in responding extend processing time.
Step 6 — Enter Italy and apply for your residence permit
On arrival in Italy with a long-stay visa, you must apply for a residence permit at the competent Questura within 8 working days. This is done via the postal kit (kit postale) available at enabled post offices.
Italian visa processing times
Processing times are set by the applicable regulation:
- Short-stay visas (type C / Schengen): decided within 15 calendar days of the application date, pursuant to Art. 23 of EU Regulation 810/2009. This may be extended to a maximum of 30 days where further scrutiny is required.
- Long-stay visas (type D / National): decided within 90 days of the application date, pursuant to Art. 5 of DPR 394/1999. This period may be extended if additional investigation is needed.
In practice, consulates in high-demand countries can take significantly longer, especially for long-stay visa types. Planning the application several months in advance is strongly recommended.
Italian visa costs
Visa fees vary by type. Where applicable, they generally range from €80 (Schengen short-stay) to €116 (most long-stay national visas). Fees are payable in the local currency of the country where the application is submitted.
Additional costs to budget for: certified document translations, health insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage for Schengen visas), and any administrative charges levied by visa application centres.
Countries exempt from the Italian visa {#countries-exempt}
Schengen Area
Thanks to the Acquis Schengen, EU and Schengen Area citizens can travel freely between member states without a visa.
ETIAS — coming April 2027
From April 2027, nationals of visa-exempt countries (including the US, UK, Australia, and Canada) will need to obtain ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation before entering the Schengen Area for short stays. ETIAS is not a visa — it is a pre-travel online screening similar to the US ESTA. The fee is €20 (free for under-18s and over-70s).
Visa-exempt countries (short stays up to 90 days)
For stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, mission, business, invitation, religious reasons, transit, transport, sports competition or study, the following nationalities do not currently require a visa: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Japan, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Solomon Islands, Israel, Kiribati, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Special conditions apply to some nationalities:
- Taiwan — visa waiver only for holders of passports that include an identity card number.
- Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine — visa waiver only for holders of biometric passports.
- Serbian citizens holding passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Koordinaciona uprava) are excluded.
Nationals of San Marino and the Holy See are always exempt from the visa requirement.
Regarding Russia: following the European Commission’s proposal of September 2022, the Agreement on facilitation of visa issuance to Russian citizens has been suspended. Standard Visa Code rules now apply.
What happens if your Italian visa is denied?
If the Italian authorities refuse your visa application, they must provide a written reason in a language you understand. If that is not possible, the communication will be provided in English, French, Spanish, or Arabic.
In case of visa denial, you may appeal the decision at the Regional Administrative Court (T.A.R.) of Lazio within 60 days of notification.
The only exception: for refusals related to family reunification or accompanying family members, applicants may file complaints with the competent ordinary court without a time limit.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Italy?
For stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business, US citizens do not currently need a visa for Italy. From April 2027, they will need to obtain ETIAS authorisation before travelling. For stays longer than 90 days — to work, study, or live in Italy — a national long-stay visa (type D) is required.
What is the difference between a Schengen visa and a national visa for Italy?
A Schengen visa (type C) allows stays of up to 90 days within the Schengen Area and is issued for tourism, business, short study, or similar purposes. A national visa (type D) is issued for stays exceeding 90 days for specific long-term purposes (work, study, family reunification, elective residence, etc.) and is only valid for Italy.
Can I work in Italy on a tourist visa?
No. A tourist visa (Schengen type C) does not permit any form of employment or professional activity. Working in Italy requires an appropriate long-stay work visa and, in most cases, a nulla osta (work authorisation) obtained through the decreto flussi quota system.
How long does an Italian visa application take?
Short-stay Schengen visas are decided within 15 days (extendable to 30 in complex cases). Long-stay national visas have a statutory limit of 90 days, though actual processing times at consulates vary considerably. We recommend applying at least 3–4 months before your intended travel date for long-stay visas.
What is the digital nomad visa Italy?
The Italian digital nomad visa, operational since April 2024, allows non-EU/EEA remote workers — both employees and freelancers — to live in Italy for up to one year (renewable). It is exempt from the decreto flussi quota system. Key requirements include proof of remote employment, a minimum monthly income of approximately €2,300, and valid health insurance. Read our full guide: digital nomad visa Italy.
What is the investor visa for Italy?
The Italian investor visa (often called the Golden Visa) grants residency to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment: from €250,000 in an innovative startup to €2,000,000 in government bonds. The visa is valid for 2 years, renewable for 3 more, and can lead to permanent residency after 5 years. Full details: investor visa Italy.
What is the elective residence visa?
The Italian elective residence visa is for financially independent non-EU nationals who wish to live in Italy without working. It requires stable passive income of at least €31,000 per year (for individuals) from pensions, rental income, or investments. Application fee: €116. Full guide: Italian elective residence visa.
How Arletti Partners can help
The Italian visa system is complex: the right visa type, the correct documentation, and the timing of your application all affect the outcome. An error at any stage — wrong visa category, missing translation, or late submission — can delay or block your plans by months.
Studio A&P provides comprehensive support for all Italian visa types, for both individuals and companies:
- Immigration services to Italy
- Worldwide immigration services
- Obtain the Italian digital nomad visa
- Obtain the Italian elective residence visa
- Obtain the study visa in Italy
Book a consultation: Consultancy on the Italian visa application
Article updated May 2025. The information contained herein is of a general nature and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements and fees may vary by consulate and are subject to change. For guidance specific to your situation, please contact our immigration specialists.